Workforce Development
July 29, 2016
An important goal of state policy should be to ensure that hard work pays off. New data from the Louisiana Workforce Commission show that many occupations adding jobs provide relatively low incomes to workers. Louisiana leaders should enact policies to support workers who will fill these jobs and are struggling to make ends meet. Doubling the state’s Earned income tax credit (EITC) and increasing the state’s minimum wage would be a good down payment for building an inclusive economy that supports these emerging jobs in Louisiana.
June 4, 2014
The Louisiana Legislature wrapped up its 2014 regular session without tackling many of the state’s critical challenges, according to a new report by the Louisiana Budget Project. While legislators largely avoided the destructive cuts that have become the norm in recent years, they failed to address the state’s structural budget problems or take advantage of opportunities to help low-income families.
February 20, 2014
Louisianans of all political stripes strongly favor establishing a state minimum wage of at least $8.50 an hour that would keep pace with the cost of living, according to polling data released as part of a new report from the Louisiana Budget Project.
The report by David Gray, “Louisiana Needs a Higher Wage,” also found that an $8.50 minimum wage would provide an immediate raise for 184,000 workers, create an estimated 1,400 new jobs and pump more than $187 million into Louisiana’s economy.
September 23, 2013
Louisiana’s jobs picture continued to improve in August.
The state added 14,000 nonfarm jobs in August – the 10th time in the last year jobs have increased. Nonfarm employment is currently at an all-time high of 1.952 million.
That’s certainly good news.… Read more...